ABYSSINIA ASKS FOR ERITREA

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24904, 18 June 1946, Page 5

ABYSSINIA ASKS FOR ERITREA

CLAIM ADVANCED BY HAILE SELASSIE

“ITALIAN TRUSTEESHIP ABHORRENT” (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 10 p.m.) LONDON, June 17. “Eritrea should be given to Abyssinia when the Foreign Ministers finally decide the disposal of the Italian colonies,” said the Emperor of Abyssinia (Haile Selassie), interviewed by Reuter’s Addis Ababa correspondent. “Whatever the merits of trusteeship regarding other Italian colonies, 4 obviously cannot be applied to Entrea

without gross injustice and hardship to the population,” said Haile Selassie. “The suggestion of Italian trusteeship for the former Italian colonies is not only abhorrent as an appalling injustice, but is replete with serious consequences.” ' « Haile Selassie added that if the United Nations decided on Italian trusteeship for Eritrea it would be necessary for the United Nations to make available a portion of the international armed forces for Abyssinia’s protection. He added: “Abyssinia would also be compelled, in the interests of its own preservation, to build up armed forces with funds which would otherwise be devoted to the welfare and progress of the peoples of Abyssinia, Eritrea, and Somaliland.” He said it was equally clear that should Eritrea and Italian Somaliland be given in trusteeship to any State, the economic situation would be su<A that the word “trusteeship” would serve only to disguise the fact of a colonial regime.